Preview: Bayern look to regain one point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table
FC Bayern München will look to bring down Hoffenheim when they travel to the Rhein Neckar Arena for a Saturday afternoon duel. Pep Guardiola will be without the injured Xherdan Shaqiri and Claudio Pizarro.
In his previous match, he had to make a double substitution in the first half due to suspected injuries. The victims, Toni Kroos and Arjen Robben, are both both deemed doubtful for this encounter. However, Guardiola does not seem convinced enough to risk them in this one.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will be without Fabian Johnson due to a sprained ankle. Andreas Ludwig is a doubt as well. Hoffenheim where the recipients of both bad and good luck in their previous two matches.
Against Bayer Leverkusen two weeks ago, they had a legitimate goal disallowed. Despite being the better side, they had to helplessly watch as the referee awarded Stefan Kiessling’s “phantom tor”. The ball went into the net via the side netting. The following week, when they played Hannover, they had a two man advantage. By the 13th minute, they were a man up as the referee sent off Mame Biram Diouf, the second yellow being for dissent.
Bayern can equal a record if they come out unscathed from this little village. Three decades ago, Hamburger SV, the dinosaurs of the Bundesliga, set a very special record. They went 36 games without defeat. Coincidentally, Bayern started their run against HSV in a 3-0 victory last year. Arjen Robben is not too concerned about the record, though, as he claimed:
“Records aren't as important as titles.”
However, this will surely be in the back of Bayern’s mind.
The team they play has the best offense in the league, notching up 25 goals in the league, 18 from the delightful trio of Roberto Firmino, Anthony Modeste and Kevin Volland. Pep Guardiola asked his team to be wary of Hoffenheim’s striking forece. This is what he had to say:
“Hoffenheim have great quality going forward. We have to control the game and keep Hoffenheim's dangerous forwards away from our penalty area.”
Herr Guardiola has surely noticed that Hoffenheim has also shipped 23 goals, which is the Bundesliga's worst alongside that of Eintracht Braunschweig.
Markus Gisdol does not want to talk up his team’s opponents, as he explained:
“I'm not going to talk up Bayern, but at the moment they are probably the best team in the world. You need to be on top form to live with them.”
However, the clash is between the league’s best offense and the league’s best defense. It is surely going to be an interesting one. Bayern should take the three points nonetheless and go back to what the Bavarians feel is their rightful spot in the table.
Where to watch the match: Live Stream, Start Time, TV Channels, Live Scores
Watch TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs. FC Bayern München live on Saturday, November 2, 2013:
In Canada at 10:30 ET on GolTV Canada
In USA at 10:30 ET Gol TV USA
Viewers in Germany can watch the match on established networks such as Sky Bundesliga HD 2 and Sky Sport 3. Viewers in Austria can watch it on Sky Go.
For the complete TV listings and live scores upong kick-off, check out the Hoffenheim-Bayern match page.
